Chapter 2-Nightfall
Sakira sighed, and quietly sat in the fading sun light. This was nice. Much better than the plane, where everyone was drinking and yelling and singing and talking. She rubbed the large black pendant around her neck. And then.
Then they came. Sakira knew mosquitos from Yreka, where she lived, but she did not know the little black bugs that held on and didn't brush away unless she crushed them. Sakira lost it. She screamed, flung her hair, and pirouetted, trying to get them off. Sakira then figured it out.
She leapt into the water, held her breath while her pests died. She swam slightly away from them, and resurfaced. They instantly recharged. She went down again, and tried to think of how to float so she could breathe, but not get bitten. She carefully placed tendrils of hair over her nose, and gently let her nose surface. She took a tentative breath, and opened her eyes.
The swarm was splitting. Some were waiting for her to resurface. Others were moving on to find fresh prey, not as intelligent. Sakira waited until they all flew back to wherever their nest was. She surfaced, and understood why. Soaking wet, it was freezing. Shivering, she went back to where she'd laid her suitcase and dozed.
~*~
Tomoko secretly left that night for the airport. He found his 4th cousin Syaoko already there. "Something's not right here. Father says it's probably the flight's been delayed. But I felt uneasy this afternoon." Tomoko nodded. He had, too.
~*~
Meiling went in to check on Tomoko. He had been very upset going to bed last night. She smiled. He had put the pillow over his head. She touched it. "Good night son. In the morning, we'll tell you they were arriving while you fell asleep." Meiling silently exited the boy's room.
~*~
Syaoran went to check on Syaoko. He entered the room. His son's sword was missing. He checked his son's drawer. His cell phone, and experimental checkbook were gone as well. "Sakura?" he yelled. Sakura came out, rubbing her eyes. "You're going to wake him up." Syaoran laughed. "He never fell asleep. He won't get a checkbook again for a few YEARS!" Sakura grasped Syaoran's arm. "Our son's, gone?" she gasped. Syaoran didn't reply. He picked up his own pink cell phone, a remnant from days a decade ago...
"Hello, Tomoro, sorry to wake you up, but I need to talk to your son, if he's home." Tomoro let out an odd noise. "Home? Meiling just checked on him. Can't it wait until tomorrow?" Syaoran sighed. "No. My son has gone to the airport. I need to know if Tomoko gave him any money. Both boys were uneasy about Sakira's flight here."
Tomoro groaned, but it sounded like he was getting up and stumbling out of his room. "Tomoko?" Tomoro said in a normal voice. "Wake up, son." Syaoran heard the sheets pulled back. Tomoro yelled, and Syaoran knew the phone had been dropped on the floor. He waited. "Meiling! Tomoko's gone." Syaoran recognized his cousin's light footfalls. She picked up the phone. "Stop blushing, Tomoro. Syaoran never hangs up until he gets his info. "Are any money or weapons missing?" Meiling quickly checked. "His sword and ceremonial robes. He did not tell us where he kept his money. That was his business." Syaoran held down a swear. "Any idea how much he had?" Meilin calculated. "He's had an allowance a year, a few odd jobs. Not that much." Syaoran thought quickly. "Tomoro's brother! Isn't he a travel agent?" Meiling screamed. "Yes! I didn't think-" Syaoran snapped, "That's why I called!" Sakura placed a hand on her husband's shoulder.
He calmed down. "Sorry, but my son is missing as well. Only he has 350 in checks. With 500, he could easily make it to Canada with a travel agent." Meiling laughed. "Do you hear yourself, cousin? Yen isn't worth that much!"
Syaoran sighed. "No, I'm calculating in American terms. That's what they'll change their money into." Meiling calculated again. "Why did I ever spoil that child?" she moaned. "He has 400 american invested in stocks. He knows the passwords and details." she tried to muffle out her voice. "Tomoro, tell me his computer's still here?" Tomoro must have shook his head, because Meiling moaned again. "Syaoran, you know where they are. Tell me. I'm too tired to think." Syaoran said drily, "Well, they've exchanged their Yen for American dollars, which is worth ----- yen." Meiling screamed, "How do you know?" Syaoran tapped another button on his son's laptop. "Under an hour ago, my son sold all his shares, in american and japanese currencies. 15 minutes ago, he had his money translated to dollars, and checked out a book on international currency. I suspect while on the plane he'll get himself accustomed with the system. Both accounts will be shot before Japanese daylight, although it is just dawning in America." None realized the girl had a layover in Canada. Oh, a second ago, your son sold your shares along with his own. That is referring to Tomoro of course." Syaoran heard swearing, but acted as if he didn't. "If I can, I'll stop them. However, unless you checked on your kid half an hour ago, they're likely already on the plane headed --- knows where in America."
~~*
Sakira shivered, and slowly sat up. What had awakened her? Buzzing. Her eyes widened. The bloodsuckers returned! She ran for the water. One of the last things she wanted to do, since she was half dry after shivering and coughing all night. "The movies are NEVER like this!" she muttered before submerging herself. She was rewarded with a mosquito in her mouth. She spat him out, but he still bit her tongue. She carefully backstroked away from him, so he wouldn't tangle in her hair. Sakira was too cold to quickly place her hair over her nose. While she shivered, her hand was covered. She submerged herself fully, flicked it away, and placed the hair on her nose before surfacing. She felt a cough coming on.
~*~
The boys looked over the Canadian wilderness a few hours later. "Dad'll kill me if anything happens to this. When it lands in Quebec, or wherever, it'll be shipped back when no one comes for it." They waited for the board to locate their unknown friend. Syaoko tucked it in his carry on. He then placed it on his seat, and calmly walked to the front of the plane. Tomoko caught up. "Think you're getting to be the hero? I'm going too!"
~~*
As two parachutes were grabbed, Sakira was shivering, rocking back and forth on her heels. Cold. So cold. How would she stay warm, freezing every morning and night? And food? Her stomach had shrunk, but it still roared for food. At home, she'd barely needed to bend over. All the kids at school liked getting her lunch and talking to her. At breakfast, her mother served her. At dinner, her father cooked. Here, she barely had time to look, before she had to duck back into the water.
~*~
As an afterthought, the boys brought two blankets and a pillow. Syaoko scowled as Tomoko picked it up.
~~~
Eriol looked into Tomoyo's eyes. "You're worrying too much. Nothing dangerous will happen to Sakira. She's trained well enough to be safe from any normal foe. Besides, magical forces generally are repelled by her. Syaoko would be the one-" Eriol had stopped, stood and closed his eyes, his head bowed. "Syaoko and Tomoko have just arrived-in Canada. They're in an undiscovered area. It will teach them survival." After a stern look from his wife, he hurriedly added, "But if anything seems to be going wrong, I'll bring them all back." Tomoyo smiled. "Good. Now I must tell Sakura her son is doing some-improvised-training."
~~*
"So cold." she whispered. Sakira shook her head. Surely speech couldn't evaporate that quickly. What was she speaking? She knew many languages, thanks to her father. German, Latin, Greek? Sanskrit, Chinese, Japanese? English, French, Spanish? She only knew three of these well. Japanese, as it was her parents native language. English, as it was her country's language. Spanish, as it was the only class offered at her school. However, she was not processing these thoughts. She looked out at the water, and realized there were two white circles there. "Ha!" she cried. An American would view it as an insult, but anyone else would know it to be a sound to let them know they weren't alone. But her ha brought on a spasm of coughs.
The boys fought their way to shore. "How long have you been here?" Sakira counted on her fingers. "4 waters. Makes you cold. Leave clothes here." They appeared to understand. What they didn't understand was why she was going underwater. "Why do you go in the water-" Sakira grabbed both of them, and held them under. Syaoko on Tomoko struggled free, and were rewarded with bites. The quickly returned to get her hair treatment. They'd rather be wet than bitten.
Sakira sighed, and quietly sat in the fading sun light. This was nice. Much better than the plane, where everyone was drinking and yelling and singing and talking. She rubbed the large black pendant around her neck. And then.
Then they came. Sakira knew mosquitos from Yreka, where she lived, but she did not know the little black bugs that held on and didn't brush away unless she crushed them. Sakira lost it. She screamed, flung her hair, and pirouetted, trying to get them off. Sakira then figured it out.
She leapt into the water, held her breath while her pests died. She swam slightly away from them, and resurfaced. They instantly recharged. She went down again, and tried to think of how to float so she could breathe, but not get bitten. She carefully placed tendrils of hair over her nose, and gently let her nose surface. She took a tentative breath, and opened her eyes.
The swarm was splitting. Some were waiting for her to resurface. Others were moving on to find fresh prey, not as intelligent. Sakira waited until they all flew back to wherever their nest was. She surfaced, and understood why. Soaking wet, it was freezing. Shivering, she went back to where she'd laid her suitcase and dozed.
~*~
Tomoko secretly left that night for the airport. He found his 4th cousin Syaoko already there. "Something's not right here. Father says it's probably the flight's been delayed. But I felt uneasy this afternoon." Tomoko nodded. He had, too.
~*~
Meiling went in to check on Tomoko. He had been very upset going to bed last night. She smiled. He had put the pillow over his head. She touched it. "Good night son. In the morning, we'll tell you they were arriving while you fell asleep." Meiling silently exited the boy's room.
~*~
Syaoran went to check on Syaoko. He entered the room. His son's sword was missing. He checked his son's drawer. His cell phone, and experimental checkbook were gone as well. "Sakura?" he yelled. Sakura came out, rubbing her eyes. "You're going to wake him up." Syaoran laughed. "He never fell asleep. He won't get a checkbook again for a few YEARS!" Sakura grasped Syaoran's arm. "Our son's, gone?" she gasped. Syaoran didn't reply. He picked up his own pink cell phone, a remnant from days a decade ago...
"Hello, Tomoro, sorry to wake you up, but I need to talk to your son, if he's home." Tomoro let out an odd noise. "Home? Meiling just checked on him. Can't it wait until tomorrow?" Syaoran sighed. "No. My son has gone to the airport. I need to know if Tomoko gave him any money. Both boys were uneasy about Sakira's flight here."
Tomoro groaned, but it sounded like he was getting up and stumbling out of his room. "Tomoko?" Tomoro said in a normal voice. "Wake up, son." Syaoran heard the sheets pulled back. Tomoro yelled, and Syaoran knew the phone had been dropped on the floor. He waited. "Meiling! Tomoko's gone." Syaoran recognized his cousin's light footfalls. She picked up the phone. "Stop blushing, Tomoro. Syaoran never hangs up until he gets his info. "Are any money or weapons missing?" Meiling quickly checked. "His sword and ceremonial robes. He did not tell us where he kept his money. That was his business." Syaoran held down a swear. "Any idea how much he had?" Meilin calculated. "He's had an allowance a year, a few odd jobs. Not that much." Syaoran thought quickly. "Tomoro's brother! Isn't he a travel agent?" Meiling screamed. "Yes! I didn't think-" Syaoran snapped, "That's why I called!" Sakura placed a hand on her husband's shoulder.
He calmed down. "Sorry, but my son is missing as well. Only he has 350 in checks. With 500, he could easily make it to Canada with a travel agent." Meiling laughed. "Do you hear yourself, cousin? Yen isn't worth that much!"
Syaoran sighed. "No, I'm calculating in American terms. That's what they'll change their money into." Meiling calculated again. "Why did I ever spoil that child?" she moaned. "He has 400 american invested in stocks. He knows the passwords and details." she tried to muffle out her voice. "Tomoro, tell me his computer's still here?" Tomoro must have shook his head, because Meiling moaned again. "Syaoran, you know where they are. Tell me. I'm too tired to think." Syaoran said drily, "Well, they've exchanged their Yen for American dollars, which is worth ----- yen." Meiling screamed, "How do you know?" Syaoran tapped another button on his son's laptop. "Under an hour ago, my son sold all his shares, in american and japanese currencies. 15 minutes ago, he had his money translated to dollars, and checked out a book on international currency. I suspect while on the plane he'll get himself accustomed with the system. Both accounts will be shot before Japanese daylight, although it is just dawning in America." None realized the girl had a layover in Canada. Oh, a second ago, your son sold your shares along with his own. That is referring to Tomoro of course." Syaoran heard swearing, but acted as if he didn't. "If I can, I'll stop them. However, unless you checked on your kid half an hour ago, they're likely already on the plane headed --- knows where in America."
~~*
Sakira shivered, and slowly sat up. What had awakened her? Buzzing. Her eyes widened. The bloodsuckers returned! She ran for the water. One of the last things she wanted to do, since she was half dry after shivering and coughing all night. "The movies are NEVER like this!" she muttered before submerging herself. She was rewarded with a mosquito in her mouth. She spat him out, but he still bit her tongue. She carefully backstroked away from him, so he wouldn't tangle in her hair. Sakira was too cold to quickly place her hair over her nose. While she shivered, her hand was covered. She submerged herself fully, flicked it away, and placed the hair on her nose before surfacing. She felt a cough coming on.
~*~
The boys looked over the Canadian wilderness a few hours later. "Dad'll kill me if anything happens to this. When it lands in Quebec, or wherever, it'll be shipped back when no one comes for it." They waited for the board to locate their unknown friend. Syaoko tucked it in his carry on. He then placed it on his seat, and calmly walked to the front of the plane. Tomoko caught up. "Think you're getting to be the hero? I'm going too!"
~~*
As two parachutes were grabbed, Sakira was shivering, rocking back and forth on her heels. Cold. So cold. How would she stay warm, freezing every morning and night? And food? Her stomach had shrunk, but it still roared for food. At home, she'd barely needed to bend over. All the kids at school liked getting her lunch and talking to her. At breakfast, her mother served her. At dinner, her father cooked. Here, she barely had time to look, before she had to duck back into the water.
~*~
As an afterthought, the boys brought two blankets and a pillow. Syaoko scowled as Tomoko picked it up.
~~~
Eriol looked into Tomoyo's eyes. "You're worrying too much. Nothing dangerous will happen to Sakira. She's trained well enough to be safe from any normal foe. Besides, magical forces generally are repelled by her. Syaoko would be the one-" Eriol had stopped, stood and closed his eyes, his head bowed. "Syaoko and Tomoko have just arrived-in Canada. They're in an undiscovered area. It will teach them survival." After a stern look from his wife, he hurriedly added, "But if anything seems to be going wrong, I'll bring them all back." Tomoyo smiled. "Good. Now I must tell Sakura her son is doing some-improvised-training."
~~*
"So cold." she whispered. Sakira shook her head. Surely speech couldn't evaporate that quickly. What was she speaking? She knew many languages, thanks to her father. German, Latin, Greek? Sanskrit, Chinese, Japanese? English, French, Spanish? She only knew three of these well. Japanese, as it was her parents native language. English, as it was her country's language. Spanish, as it was the only class offered at her school. However, she was not processing these thoughts. She looked out at the water, and realized there were two white circles there. "Ha!" she cried. An American would view it as an insult, but anyone else would know it to be a sound to let them know they weren't alone. But her ha brought on a spasm of coughs.
The boys fought their way to shore. "How long have you been here?" Sakira counted on her fingers. "4 waters. Makes you cold. Leave clothes here." They appeared to understand. What they didn't understand was why she was going underwater. "Why do you go in the water-" Sakira grabbed both of them, and held them under. Syaoko on Tomoko struggled free, and were rewarded with bites. The quickly returned to get her hair treatment. They'd rather be wet than bitten.